Grain-binder.



No. 662,079. Patented Nov. 20, I900. W. C. MARTIN.

GRAIN BINDER.

'Applicatx'on filed Dec. 15, 1899.;

5 Sheets8'heet I.

(No Model.)

m: nonms PETERS co. PHOYO-UYHQ. wnsmuc'rom n. c.

No. 662,079. Patented N-o'v. 20, I900.

- W. C. MARTIN.

GRAIN BINDER.

(Appfication filed Dec. 15, 1899.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

.. lilllllllll J vlllli jzulluum No. 662,079. Patented Nov. 20, I900.

W. C. MARTIN.

GRAIN BINDER.

(Appli cation filed Dec. 15, 1899.

5 Sheets-$heet 3.

(No Model.)

Patented Nov. 20, I900.

w. c. MARTIN.

GRAIN BINDER.

(Application filed Dec. 15. 1899.-

5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

m: Ncnms ravens co. morauma. WASHNGTON. n. c.

W. C. MARTIN. GRAIN BINDER.

(Application filed Dec. 15, 1899.-

Patented Nov. 20, I900.

5 Sheets- 8min 5.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

' VVE SLEY C. MARTIN, OF DELAWARE, OHIO.

GRAIN-BIN DER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 662,079, dated November 20, 1900.

Application tiled December 15, 1899. Eerial No. 740,427- (No model.)

of means over the grain-deck and adjacent to the path of the swinging needle-arm for effooting the separation of entangled head and butt ends of the grain, so as to wholly divide the grain in the gavel from the intlowing grain supplied by the elevator mechanism, such separating and grain-dividing mechanism being normally out of the path of the inflowing grain and then actuated automatically in a manner to move the dividing fingers into operative position, then actuated to separate the entangled ends of the grain, and finally returned to their first positions.

A further object is to balance the conveyerplatform and to dispose the main groundwheel in advance of said platform, so that the binder-deck may be arranged in a low position and at the same time enable me to dispose all the parts to the end that they may be operated from the ground-wheel.

A further object is to provide an improved cord holding and cutting mechanism adapted for operation automatically with the needlearm, so as to hold the end of the binding-cord securely in place and to act efficiently in cutting the cord at the propel-period in the operation of binding and tying the gavel.

With these ends in view the invention consists in the novel combination of mechanisms and in the construction and arrangement of parts comprising such mechanisms, as' will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings 1 have represented a grain-binder which embodies the several features of my invention in their pre ferred form, and to these drawings I shall now refer in order to explain more clearly the nature of the invention and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effeet.

Figure 1 is a plan view of my grain-binder, omitting the packer and compressor mechanisms. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken in the plane of the dotted line 2 2 on Fig. 1, illustrating the position of the compressor and omitting the packer mechanism. Fig. 3 is asectional end elevation of the binder with parts broken away and omitting the grain-dividing mechanism and the binding mechanism above the grain-deck, the plane of the section being indicated by the irregular line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. etis a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the grain separating or dividing mechanism of my invention, which is designed to be arranged above the grain-deck, the parts being shown in their initial positionsthat is, before the dividing-fingers are lowered into the mass of grain for the purpose of separating the entangled heads and butts of the grain. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the devices shown by Fig. 4 in connection with a compressor and the needle-arm, the dividing-fingers of the grain-separating mechanism being shown in their lowered positions. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the grain-separating mechanism comprised in Figs. 4 and 5, but showing the series of dividing-fingers moved to their outward final positions for the purpose of separating the heads and butts of the grain, so as to leave the gavel intact or free from the inflowing grain. Figs. 7, 8,54,10, and 11 are enlarged detail views of the knotter-bill, the cam therefor, and the cord-holder, illustrating the series of steps involved in the operations of forming the loop in the binding-cord, completing the knot, gripping the cord, and cutting the cord at the proper interval. Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation in a plane at right angles to Fig. H and illustrating the cam-wheel and cord-holder in the positions shown by said figure. Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail view of the revoluble cord-holder and the cord-cutter in the positions for se\-'ering the cord, the dotted lines illustrating a part of the frame and a part of the revoluble cam-wheel. Fig.

l t is a detail view of "the cord holder detached, and Fig. 15 is a detail of the cord-knife. Fig. 16 is a detail perspective view of the reciproeating feeder and its actuating crank-shaft 'fastened to the platform.

employed for the purpose of assisting the grain-elevator in carrying the butt-ends of the grain from the platform conveyer to the grain-deck. Fig. 17 is a detail view showing the cord-holding disk and cord-cutting knife in their relative positions. Fig. 18 is a detail perspective view of the cord-cutting knife.

The same numerals of reference are used to indicate like and corresponding parts in each of the several figures of the drawings.

The grain-platform 20 may be of any suitable construction and at its frontedge is provided an ordinary cutter apparatus 21. The outer end of the platform is supported by a centrally-arranged grain-wheel 22, and over this wheel is disposed the shield 23, which is At the inner end of the platform is secured an arch or yoke 24, and depending'centrally from this arch is a wheel-hanger25, the latter having a pivotal connection with said arch, so as to be free to turn on a vertical axis. (See Fig. 2.) In this wheel-hanger is mounted the axle of a casterwheel 26, and the grain-wheel 22 and said caster wheel are arranged substantially in the plane of the longitudinal axis of the platform, so that the latter will be carried by the wheels and be practically balanced thereon.

A draft-frame 27 is hinged to the platform by the counter-shaft 30 at a line to one side of the cutter apparatus, and within this draftframe is arranged the ground-wheel 28, said wheel being fast with a horizontal axle 29, which is journaled in suitable hearings on the draft-frame. A counter-shaft 30 is journaled in bearings extending outwardly from the platform-frame, so as to lie parallel with the ground-wheel axle, and on this axle is secured a sprocket-wheel 31, Which is engaged by a sprocket-chain 32, that serves to drive a sprocket-gear 33 on the counter-shaft, thus propelling, the counter-shaft from the axle. A short main driving-shaft 34 is journaled in suitable bearings on the front part of the platform, and this shaft is arranged in a plane at right angles to the counter-shaft, so as to have one end inter-geared directly therewith through the medium of intermeshing bevelgears 24, as shown clearly by Fig. 1. From this shaft 34is derived the motion for the propulsion or operation of the several mechanisms of the improved grain-binder, as will hereinafter appear.

35 indicates the platform conveyer of the usual endless variety and arranged within the limits of the platform in rear of the cutter mechanism. The end of the conveyer at the grain end of the platform is supported by an idler-roller 36, (see Fig. 2;) butthe other end of the conveyer passes around a driving-roller 37, both of said rollers being journaled in the platform and the roller 37 being driven by intermediate gearing from the driving-roller 42 of the endless grainelevator 43.

The grain-deck 38 isarranged in the usual inclined position; butin mygrain-binder this deck is in a plane above and to one side of the caster-wheel 26, said deck. peing shift-' ably supported in the usual way on any suitable framework (not shown) mounted on the platform. The deck is provided at the sides with the walls 39, as is usual. The inclined walls 40 41 lie between the sides of the platform and the side walls 35-) of the grain-deck, and said walls 40 41 are or may be arranged parallel to each other, so as to form a chute or grain-passage from the platform to the grain-deck. This chute or grain-passage, formed in the manner described, is bottomless for the accommodation of the inclined grain-elevator 43, that is of the usual endless variety for transferring the grain from the platform conveyer to. the grain-deck. The upper part of this elevator is supported by an idler-roller 43, supported adjacent to one edge of the grain-deck, (see Fig. 2;) butthe lower part of this elevator is supported by the driving-roller 42, the latter being adja cent to and parallel with the driving-roller 37 of the platform conveyer, whereby the grain may be discharged directly from the endless conveyer 35 upon the endless elevator 43. The driving-roller for the endless elevator is driven from the main driving-shaft 34 bymeans of a sprocketchain 44, which fits around the sprocket-gears 45 45, secured to the shaft 34 and the roller 42, respectively. The driving-roller 42 for the grain-elevator fand' the driving-roller 37 for the platform conveyer are provided with sprocket-gears 146 47, respectively, and these gears are connected byan endless sprocket-chain 48, which lcommunicates the motion of the roller 42 to the roller 37, so that the platform conveyer is propelled from the roller which drives the elevator.

In the inclined grain passage or chute formed by the walls 40 41 is arranged an inclined reciprocating feed board or plate 50. This board or plate is provided on one face thereof with a series of ribs or slats 51, and said board or plate is confined slidably in guides 52, providedon the wall 40, whereby the board is arranged at one side of the grainpassage and in a position for its ribs to engage with the butt-ends of the grain during its elevation by the endless elevator. A crankshaft 53, (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2 and by full lines in Fig. 16,) is journaled in suitable bearings on the inclined Wall 40, and this shaft has its crank or cranks connected in any suitable way with the feed board or plate, so as to impart a longitudinal reciprocating movement to the board or plate. The upper end of the crank-shaft extends a suitable distance above the wall 40 for the reception of a gear 54, the latter adapted to mesh with a gear 54 which is fast with an upright shaft 55. The crank-shaft is thus driven positively for the purpose of reciprocating the feed board or plate, the latter being arranged and guided for its ribs or slats to en gage the butt-ends of the grain, whereby the board operates to assist the elevator in carrying the grain to the grain-deck. The feedboard advances the butt-ends of the grain uniformly with the head ends thereof, and the grain is deposited in an approximately uniform condition on the grain-deck.

The upright shaft 55 is supported in any suitable way on the front side of the platform, its lower end being equipped with a bevelgear 56, which intermeshes with a bevelgear 57 on the elevator driving roller 42. This shaft 55 has an angular polygonal upper length 58 connected therewith through the medium of a knuckle or universal halland-socket joint 59, (see Fig. 2,) and on this polygonal length is slidably fitted a polygonal sleeve 60, which is adapted under all circumstances to rotate with the sectional shaft 55 5S and is capable of an endwise movement, so as to accommodate the shaft to adjustments in the grain-reel 61. A post or standi ard 62 is secured firmly on the draft-frame 27, and this post is provided with a suitable hearing, in which is; mounted a rocking crankformed arm 63, the latter having at its free end a suitable bearing for the reception of the reel-shaft. A lever 64 is linked with the crai'ik-formed reel-carrying shaft or arm 63 for the purpose of rocking the latter in its bearing to raise or lower the reel in a manner well understood in the art. The reel-shaft is furthermore provided with an angular hearing 65, which loosely receives the polygonal sleeve 60, and on this sleeveis secured a bevelgear 66, that intermeshes with a bevel-gear 07 on the reel-shaft, whereby the reel is driven from a sectional shaft which is telescopic and adjustable, so as to accommodate itself automatically to variations in the elevation of the revoluble reel.

Across the receiving-mouth at the lower end of the inclined grain passage or chute that accommodates the endless elevator 43 is arranged a cross-rod 68, which may be fastened to the opposing walls 40 41 or sunported therein so as to turn or rock. This crossrod supports a series of spring-pressuie fingers 69, which are disposed over the grainelevator and are inclined thereto. These fingers are long enough to extend nearly 'to the grain-deck, and by inclining the pressurefingers at a different angle to the inclination of the elevator a wide space is provided between the crossbar and the lower ends of the pressure-fingers for the free entrance of the grain to the elevator. The upper free ends of the fingers approach quite closely to the upper end of the elevator, so that the fingers are disposed in operative relation to the elevator in a manner to minimize the tendency of the grain falling back to theplatform conveyer; but these fingers are yieldable in an upward direction foran accumulation or bunch of grain on the elevator to readily pass beneath the free ends of said fingers.

7O designates the rteedle-shaft,vvhich is arranged in the usual horizontal position in suitable bearings on'the under side of the grain-deck, and on this shaft is secured the needlearm 71, the latter having the usual finger 72, said arm adapted to travel through the needle-slot 73 of the grain-deck. An idle sprocket-wheel 74 is loosely mounted in any suitable way on one of the pair of posts 78, which extend upwardly from the framework that supports the grain deck, and this sprocket-wheel is provided with a wrist-pin 74 and with a gear-pinion 74 The needleshaft is provided at one end with a crankarm to which is pivoted one end of apitman 75, the other end of which is connected to the wrist-pin 74 of the sprocket-gear 74. This sprocket-gear is connected by an intei mediate chain belt 76 with a sprocketgear 76, on the packer-shaft76, and said sprocketgear 74 thus has a link connection with the needle-shaft for the purpose of. rocking the latter-in its bearings, so as to make the needlearm swing back and forth in an arc of a circle toward and from the knot-tying mechanism. The position of an ordinary compressor is indicated by the numeral 77 in Figs. 2 and 5 and is arranged in cooperative relation to the needle-arm, so as to coact therewith in the ordinary manner for the formation of the gavel. I have not considered it necessary to fully describe and illustrate this compressor or the packer mechanism other than to show the position of the packet-shaft 76, because these devices are ordinary in the art.

In Fig. 3 of thedrawings I have illustrated only one of the posts for the support of the knotter-shaft 80, said post 78 being provided at its upper end with a bearing 79 for the accommodation of said knottershaft. This shaft is provided at one end with a gear-pinion 40, adapted to mesh directly with the spur gear-pinion 74 on a short shaft 74 on which is the sprocketgear 74, whereby the knotter-shaft 80 and the needle-shaft 70 are both driven from the sprocket-gear 74 in a manner for the knotter-shaft to be controlled by the usual bundle-tripping devices common in the art and to be rotated or driven intermittently. The chain 76 connects gear-pinion 76 on packer-shaft 76 with the sprocketwheel 74 on shaft 74. On the shaft 76 is a sprocket-wheel 76 The endless chain 44 connects wheel 76 with a sprocket-gear 45 on shaft 34 and a sprocket-gear 45 on drivingroller 42. i

I will now describe the knotter mechanism and the cord holding and cutting mechanisms, reference being had more particularly to Figs. 7 to 15, inclusive. A master-wheel 81 is made fast with the knotter-shaft SOata suitable point over the grain-deck and nearly in the vertical plane of the needle-arm slot 73 therein. (See Fig. 1.) This tnasterwheel is provided on one face thereof with a gearsegment 82, which maybe, and preferably is, integral with said wheel, and the wheel is furthermore provided with a flange or rib 83, the latter arranged in a plane at right angles to the plane of the wheel and of annular form nearly throughout its entire length, said annular rib being concentric for the major part of its length with the axis of the masterwheel, but having one end portion thereof offset to form the cam Si, which extends inwardly toward the center of the wheel and terminates at a point overlapping the terminal of the concentric part of the rib, thus leaving an opening or space between the ends of the concentric and cam portions of the flange, as shown more clearly by Figs. 7, 8, and 11. A bearing-sleeve has suitable connection with the knot-ter-shaft to remain at rest on the rotation of the parts, and in this sleeve-bearing is journaled the short knotterbill shaft 86. The knotter-bill 87 is made fast or integral with one end of this shaft, and it is provided with' a pivoted member 88, the heel of which is formed or provided with a roller 89, that is adapted to ride upon a cam-face 90, which is formed on one of the sleeve-bearings 85, whereby the pivoted member 88 is adapted to be opened and closed at the proper intervals with relation to the knotter-bill 87 when the latter is rotated with its shaft in the sleeve-bearings 85 by the engagement of the gear-segment 82 with a pinion 91, the latter being made fast with one end of the knotter-bill shaft 86. The cord-holder is in the form of a disk 92, which is connected by a spindle or bolt 93 with a suitable part 94 of the framework, and this cord-holder disk lies adjacent to the master-wheel and the knotter-wheel, so that it is close to the path of the swinging needle arm when the latter is raised and reaches the limit of its upward movement. Said disk is provided with two annular grooves 95 95, one of which is considerably deeper than the other, and these grooves form flanges 95 and 95 on the respective end portions of said disk. In the disk: is formed a series of rounded notches 96, arranged equidistant from each other and opening radially through the edge of the disk and extending through the flanges 95 95, and the said flanges of said disk are furthermore provided with another seriesof equidistant notches 97, which are of angular form and are disposed alternately with relation to the notches 96, said notches 97 terminating at their inner ends substantially flush with the body of the disk, while the outer ends of the notches open through the edge of the flange 95 on the edge of the disk. The axis of the cord-holding disk 92 is in a plane at right angles to the axis of the revoluble masterwheel 81, and said disk 92 is arranged in such relation to the master-wheel that the ofistanding rib or flange 83 Sinormally projects into one or the other of the recesses or notches 96. It is therefore to be understood that the cord-holder is presented edgewise to the face of the master-wheel in order to assume a position where the flange or rib will enter one of the recesses 96, and during the major part of the rotation of the niasterywheel the con centric portion 83 of the oifstanding flange or rib will ride or travel in one of the recesses or notches 96, thus permitting the disk 92 to remain at rest; but when the offset or cam portion 84 of the flange on the masterwheel travels. through the notch of the disk the said offset 84 operates to turn the disk on its axis fora distance equal to one-fourth of a revolution, thus carrying the cord-holding disk part Way around to present another notch or recess 96 thereof into the path of the extremity of the annular or concentric portion 83 of the olfstanding flange, whereby the disk 92 is automatically turned for the oifstanding cam to engage successively with the series of notches 96 in said disk. The angular notches 97, which alternate with the rounded notches 9b, are designed to receive successively the cord from the needle-a rm as the lat ter completes its upward movement, and to distinguish the notches 96 97 one from the other I will hereinafter refer to-the notches 96 as the cam-notches, while the notches 97 will be designated as the cord-notches.

The cord-cutting knife of my binding mechanism is preferably embodied in the form of a curved yieldable arm 98, which is provided at one end with a shank 99, that is fastened by a bolt or screw to a part 93 of the frame. (See Figs. 12 and 13 of the drawings.) The free end 98 of said cord-cutting knife is a curved arm which fits in and is concentric with the shallow groove 95 of the cord-holding disk, and on one side of said curved arm 98 is a blade 100, which has a curved cutting edge 100, said blade projecting into the deep groove 95 of the cord-holding disk, so that the cord in one of the cord-notches 97 will be presented transversely to said curved cutting edge. On turning the disk by the action of the offset or cam 011 the revoluble master-wheel in the manner hereinbefore described the cord which is placed in one of the cord-notches 97 is carried into engagement with and across the cutting edge 100 of the yieldable knife-arm and tends to spring the latter outward, the cordas it is moved on said curved cutting edge of the blade being thereby severed at the proper period in the operation of binding the gavel and of tying the knot in the binding-cord.

With the parts of the knot-carrying mechanism in the position shown by Fig. 7 and with the master-wheel rotating in the direction of the arrow the concentric part or length 83 of the rib travels idly in one of the camnotches of the cord-holder, the cord from which leads across the pivoted member 88 of the knotter-bill, the latter being closed by its roller riding on a low part of the cam 90. As the master-wheel continues its rotation for the gear-seginent 82 to approach the pinion 91, and with the parts in the position shown by Fig. 8, the concentric part 82 of the flange on the master-wheel still travels in the notch of the cord-holder, but the needle-arm is raised and moved across the face of the master-wheel, so as to carry the other length of the binding-cord across the pivoted member of the knotterbill, thus bringing the two lengths of the binding-cord quite close together, whereby one end of the binding-cord is held in one cord-notch ot' the disk 92, while the other end of the binding-cord from the free extremity of the needle is laid in the next.

'or succeeding cord-notch of the disk 92, all

as clearly shown by Fig. 8. Now the continued rotation of the master-wheel in the direction of the arrow brings the gear-segment 82 into mesh with the pinion 91 on the knotterbill shaft, thereby rotatingthe latter on its axis while the needle-arm remains at rest, and at this period in the operation of the knot-forming mechanism the offset or cam 84 is in a position to enter the cam-notch of the cord-holding disk 92, all as shown by Fig. 9. During the first half of the rotation of the knotter-bill shaft the roller on the heel of the pivoted knotter-bill member rides on the cartrface of the sleeve-bearing 85, so as to open the knotter-bill and to partly form the loop in the two ends of the binding-cord, reference beingstill had to Fig. 2). The continued rotation of the masterwheel while the needle-arm remains at rest makes the gear-segment 82 propel the knotterbill shaft so that the latter will make a complete revolution, and at this stage of the operation, which is graphically represented by Fig. 10, the knotter-bill members are opened by the roller riding on the cam-face 90, so as to complete the twisting or looping of the two ends of the binding-cord around the knotterbill, and at the same time the offset or cam 84. in the fiange of the master-wheel operates to turn theeordholdiugdisk adistance equivalent to a fourth of a revolution, thereby bringing the end of the cord from the needlearm against the cutting edge of the knife-arm, so as to sever the cord that incloses the gavel.

The two ends of the cord are thus freed from the cord-holder, and at this period the seg ment clears the pinion 91, and the roller reaches a low part of the cam 90, while the free ends of the binding-cord are twisted in a complete loop around the knotter bill, whereby the knotter-bill is closed (by suitable spring-pressu re) to assume the position shown by Fig. 11 and permit the pull or strain on the binding-cord to slip the loop over the cord and complete the formation or tying of the knot just previous to the disengagement of the cord from the knotter-bill and the ejection of the gavel from the machine, such ejection being effected by any of the usual appliances known to the art. The needle-arm now returns to its normal position below the graindeck, but the end of the cord is gripped or held in the notch of the disk 92, in which it was previously placed by the needle, thus permitting the cord to be passed around the succeeding gavel.

I will now describe the mechanism which I have invented for the purpose of separating the entangled head and butt ends of the grain on the binder-deck, said mechanism being contemplated in this specification by the term separating mechanism or dividing mechanism. ltiswellknown tothoseskilled in the art that the infiowing' grain delivered by the elevator to and upon the grain-deck for binding thereon into gavels has its head and butt ends entangled or twisted together, which arrangement of the grain is due to the lack of uniformity in advancing the end portions thereof by the platform conveyer and the elevator. This entanglement of the ends of the loose grain is more perceptible at the head ends, and in the operation of separating the grain in the gavel from the inflowing grain considerable strain and wear are imposed on the needle-arm and its associated parts, sometimes causinga breaking down in the operation of the grain-binder. It is my purpose to provide mechanism arranged adjacent to the needle-arm and effective subsequent to the operation thereof forthe purpose of positively separating the head as well as the butt ends of the grain in the gavel from the grain which is lodged on or inflows to the grain-deck, and this grain dividing mechanism is operated automatically, so as to thoroughly divide the grain in the gavel from the inflowing grain. For separating the head ends of the grain I em ploya pail-of coacting head-divider fingers 101102; buta single buttdivider finger 103 is thought to be sufficient in effecting the separation of the butt-ends of the grain in the gavel from the grain 'on the deck. All of the fingers are normally in raised positions above the grain-deck, so as to be out of the path-of the grain as it is delivered by the elevator upon the deck and during the process of forr'ning the gavel; but after the needle-arm shall have been raised so as to gather a portion of the grain between itself and the compressor, and thereby form the gavel, the several divider-fi ngers are lowered simultaneously,so as to pass through the space which is formed in the grain by the elevation of the needle-arm. (See Fig. 1.) The fingers comprising the pair 101 102 lie on one side of the needle-arm, while the finger 103 is on the opposite side of the needle-arm, and after the fingers shall have been lowered as described, and as shown by Fig. 5 of the drawings, the fingers 101 102 are moved outward from the needle-armand through the head ends of the grain, but the other needle 103 is moved in an opposite direction and outward from the needle'arm, so as to pass through the buttends of the grain, thereby effectually separating or dividing the grain in the gavel from the grain on the deck, after which and subsequent to the ejection of the bound gavel all of the fingers are returned to their raised normal conditions. One embodiment of the means for the operation of the separating or divider fingers in the manner described is represented by Figs. 1 and 2 and shown more IIO clearlyby Figs. 4, 5, and 6. A rocking head 104 is sleeved loosely on the knotter-shaft 80, and this head is provided at one end with a fork105 and at its other end with a crank-arm 100. The finger 101 is formed with an angular arm 107, which is loosely jonrnaled in bearings of the fork 105 on the head, so as to rock or turn therewith; but this arm of the fingeris capable of a rocking movement on its axis independently of the rocking movement of its head 104 011 the knotter-shaft, said finger-arm 107 being provided with an oifstanding stud 108 at a point between its hearings in the fork 105. A'rock-shaft 109 is journaled in suitable bearings above the grain-deck and in substantially parallel relation to the knotter-shaft, this rock-shaft being spaced at one side of the knotter-shaft, so as to permit the needle-arm to pass in a vertical path between the two shafts 80 and 109. (See Fig. 4.) This rock-shaft is provided at one end with a forked head 110, which is in the same plane as the head-fork 105, and in the forked head 110 is loosely journaled the angular arm 111 of the separating-finger 102, the latter being capable of a limited rocking movement in its bearings of the head 110, but also movable with the head when the shaft 109 is rocked on its axis. This angular arm of the separator-finger 102 is provided with oppositelyextending studs 112 113, and the angular arms of the pair of coacting head-separator fingers are connected operatively together for simultaneous movement through the medium of a link 114, one end of the latter being connected to the stud 108 by a suitable fiexible joint, while the other end of said linkis likewise connected to the stud 113. The con.- nected vibrator arms of the two head-separator fingers are actuated positively from a cam 115, the latter being made fast with the knotter-shaft 80 on one side of the masterwheel 81, and this cam is provided in one face thereof with an irregular cam-groove 11b, in which travels a roller 117, that is loosely mounted on one end of a pitman 118, the latter extending from the cam on the knotter-shaft across the space which separates the rock-shaft 109 from the said knotter-shaft, the end of said pitman 118 being connected to the stud 112 on the angular arm 111 on the separator-finger 102 by a suitable flexible joint.

The arm 111 of the separator-finger 102 is provided at its free end with a crank 119, to which is loosely connected a pitman 120, which extends parallel with the rock-shaft 109 to the crank 121, which is formed on the 111 in the forked head of the rock-shaft. The rocking movement is given to this shaft 109 by a cam 124 on the knotter-shaft, and this cam is provided in one face with a groove 125, in which travels a roller 126, that; is at taehed to one end of a pitman 127, the latter being pivoted to an arm 128, which is fast with the rock-shaft 109. The rocking move ment is given to the head 104, which is sleeved on the knotter-shaft by a link 129, one end of said link being pivoted to an arm 130,

which is fast with the rock shaft, While its other end is pivoted to the crank-arm 106 on the head 104.

As hereinbefore described, the series of separator-fingers normally occupy raised positions above the grain-deck and out of the path of the inflowing grain, and the parts assume the positions indicated substantially by Fig. 4 of the drawings. After the need le-arm shall have been raised so as to pass between the pair of fingers 101 102 and the finger 103 at the point indicated by the dotted circle in Fig. 4 an opening or space is. formed in the grain by the needle-arm and its guard-finger,

as represented in outline by said Fig. 4. At

this period the cam 124 moves the pitman 127 in a direction to rock the shaft 109, and this shaft actuates the head 104 through the link 129, whereby the heads 105, 110, and 123 are turned so as to lower the series of separatorfingers into the space between the gavel and the grain, the parts assuming the position shown by Fig. 5. The cam 115 now becomes active to move the pitman 118 in a direction to turn the arm 111 of the finger 102 on its axis in the forked head 110, and this axial movement of the arm 111 is communicated by the pitman 114 to the arm 107 of the finger 101 and through the pitman 120 to the arm 122 to the finger 103, whereby the fingers 101 102 are moved in directions outwardly from the needle-arm and through the head ends of the grain, while the finger 103 moves in an opposite direction and outwardly from the needle-arm through the butt-ends of the grain. The grain in the gavel is bound and thrown from the binder in the manner heretofore described and by the employment of any suitable ejector devices. The outward movement of the series of separator-fingers is indicated substantially by Fig. 5 of the drawings, and as the needle-arm is retracted or returned to its lowered position the cams 115 124 operate the pitmen 118 and 127 to return the rock-shaft, the head 104, and the separator-fingers to their normal raised positions. The cam-grooves inthe cam-disks 115 and 124 are shaped and proportioned to give to the parts the movements heretofore described and to enable the several devices to operate in the manner set forth.

Changes within the scope of the appended claims may be made in the form and proportion of some of the parts while their essential features are retained and the spirit of the invention is embodied. Hence I do not desire to be limited to the precise form of all the parts as shown, reserving the right to vary therefrom.

Having thus described the invention, what i I claim isversely-disposed cord-notches and the deep and shallow circumferential grooves, of the yieldable knife having the shank at one end secured to a ri id support, said knife forming a compound curve and having a curved armformed in its free end bearing in said shallow groove of said cord-holding disk and further provided with the cutting-blade disposed in the deep groove of said cord-holding disk, said blade having the curved cutting edge against which the cord is transversely presented by the rotation of the cord-holding disk, substantially as described.

3. In a grain-binder, a cord-holding disk provided with the circumferential deep and shallow grooves and with two series of notches arranged alternately, one series of notches extending to the deep groove of said disk, and a cord-cutting knife havingacurved end fitted inthe shallow groove of the disk and provided with a segmental blade which extends into the deep groove of the disk, in combination with a needle-arm, a knotterbill, and means for actuating said parts in due order, substantially as described.

a. In a grain-binder, the combination of a cord holding disk having circumferential deep and shallow grooves, a series of curved cam-notches, and a series of cord-notches arranged alternately to the cam-notches,ayieldable knife having a curved arm fitted in the shallow groove of said disk, said curved arm having a cutting-blade in the deep groove of said disk, a knotterbill, a master- Wheel adapted for the actuation of said knotterbill and having an offset cam arranged to ride successively in the cam-notches of the cord-holding disk for rotating the latter with a step-by-step feed, and a needle-arm, substantially as described.

5. In a grain-binder, a platform-frame having a grain-wheel centrally disposed at one end and a centrally-disposed fixed arch at the other end thereof, a caster-wheel swiveled in said arch, said platform-frame being balanced on said grain and caster-wheels and supported thereby,a platform conveyer and cutting mechanism at one end of the platformframe, an inclined grain -conveyer at the other end thereof and over the caster-Wheel, a grain-deck extending from said inclined grain-conveyer, abinding and knott-ing mechanism, a draft-frame pivotally connected to the front side of the platform-frame in ad- Vance of the grain-elevator and grain-deck, a drive-wheel having its shaft journaled in said draft-frame, and operating connections between said drive-wheel, cutting mechanism, platform carrier, grainelev'ator and binding and knotti ng mechanism all arranged and adapted to operate substantially as described.

6. In a grain-binder, the combination with a platform-frame and supporting-wheels on which the same is balanced, said supportingwheels being located at opposite ends thereof and having their axes in line with each other, in the same vertical plane, of a cutting mechanism and platform conveyer at one end of said frame, an inclined endless grainonveying elevator at the inner end of said platformelevator, a binding mechanism, a countershaft journaled in supports on the front side of the platform-frame and in front of the elevator and binding mechanism, operative connections between said counter-shaft and said cutting mechanism, platform conveyer, grain elevator and binding mechanism, a draft-frame hinged or pivotally connected on the counter-shaft, a drive-wheel having its axle-shaft jonrnaled in said draft-frame and operative connectionsbetween said axle-shaft of said drive-wheel and said counter-shaft,

all constructed and adapted to operate, substantially as described.

7. In a grain-binder, the combination with a platform-frame and su.pporting-wheels at the ends thereof on which said platformframe is balanced, the axes of said wheels being in line with each other in the same vertical plane, a draft-flame hinged or pivotally connected to the front side of the platformframe and in which adrive-wheel is mounted, a rock-shaft in supports carried by the driveframe, said rock-shaft having a crank-arm, a reel having its shaft journaled in said crank-arm,' an extensible operating-shaft geared to said reel and connected to the platform-frame and a lever for operating the rockshaft and thereby adjusting the reel, substantially as described.

8. In a grain-binder, the combination with a graindeck, a needle-arm, and a knotter mechanism, of a grain separator or divider mechanism arranged above the grain-deck and including swinging fingers which are disposed on opposite sides of the path of the needle-arm, and means for positively moving said swinging fingers to a lowered position, outwardly from the needle-arm in opposite directions, and returning said fingers to a normal position raised above the deck and out'of the path of the grain thereon, substantially as described.

9. In a grain-binder, the combination with a grain-deck, a knotter mechanism, and a needle-arm, of a grain separator or divider mechanism disposed above the grain-deck,

out of the path of the grain thereon and in- 0111 ding a series of three fingers, two of which normally lie one side of the path of the needlearm and adapted to operate in unison to sweep through the head ends of the grain, and a third separator-finger disposed on the opposite side of the path of the needle-arm to move in an opposite direction and sweep through the buttends of the grain, and means sul' stantially as described for lowering said separator-fingers to an operative position, moving them in opposite directions outwardly from the path of the needle-arm, and returning the same to raised positions above the grain-deck, as set forth.

10. In a grain-binder, the combination with a graindeck, a needle-arm and a 'knottershaft fox-actuatinga knotter mechanism, of a grain divider or separator mechanism arranged above the grain-deck and com prising a rock-shaft, a rocking head fitted on the knot ter-shaft and linked to the rock'shaft, a headseparator finger mou nted in the rocking head, the head and butt separator fingers mounted in opposite ends of the rock-shaft, a cam on the knotter-shaft for actuating the rock-shaft, and a cam with operative connections to the series of fingers for moving the latter independently of the movement imparted thereto by the rock-shaft, substantially as described.

11. In agrain-binder, the combination with agrain-deck, aknotterrnechanism, anda needle-arm, of agrain separator or divider mechanism above the grain-deck and comprising a rock-shaft, a rocking head supported independently of the rock shaft and parallel therewith, a pair of head-separator fingers mounted in the rock-shaft and the rocking head, respecti vely, a bu tt-separator finger also mo u nt ed in the rock-shaft, a cam having operative connections With the rock-shaft, and another cam with operative connections to the series of fingers for moving the latterindependently arms journaled in the rock-shaft and the rock ing head, another separator-finger journaled in the rock-shaft, a cam on the knotter-shaft and connected with the rock-shaft, another cam on the knotter-shaft and connected with an arm of one of the separating-fingers, and connections from this arm of. the separatorfiuger with the arms of the other separatorfingers, substantially as described.

13. In a grain-binder, the combination with a grain-deck, a knotter-shafl. having knotter devices, and a needle-arm, of a rock-shaft having the heads at its opposite ends, a rocking head mounted on the knotter-shaft and linked to the rock-shaft, a pair of head-separator fingers having arms journaled in a head of the rock-shaft and the rocking head, respectively, a butt-separator having an arm journaled in the other head of the rock-shaft, a cam on the knotter-shaft and connected with the rock-shaft, another can] on the knotter-shaft, a,pit1nan between the last-named cam and one of the separator-fingers, and link connections from the cam-actuated separatorfinger to the other separatorfingers, substantially as described.

vIn testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WESLEY C. MARTIN. \Vitnesses:

B. F. FRESHWATER, O. B. ADAMS. 

